Purpose

As part of the Council’s continuing
contribution to commemorating Mayflower 400, an agreement to rent
the house of the Mayflower Captain (Christopher Jones) was agreed
with the owner. This was originally due to last until the end of
2020, but due to the global pandemic was extended until the end of
2022. In January 2024 the current tenants contacted the Council
requesting an extension to the agreement - the original agreement
was confirmed to 31st October 2024.
Further decisions published on 24th October 2024, 13th November
2024, 23rd December 2024 and 28th January 2025 enabled the
extension of the current arrangement to 28th February 2025.
The current tenants will be taking over the lease of the house from
1st January 2025 and have agreed to pay the rent to Tendring
District Council for the period 1st January 2025 – 31st
December 2025. Due to a delay in governance around the agreement,
Tendring District Council has agreed to pay 1st March 2025 - to
31st March 2025 with the current tenants repaying the amount when
the agreement has been confirmed.
In concurrence with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth,
Tourism and Regeneration, this request was approved. A copy of the
concurrence and decision is available on file.
Related Decision: Decision - The House of Captain Christopher Jones
- Extension to Lease to 28th February 2025 -
https://tdc-mgov-prd-01.tendringdc.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=13223

Content

To fund the lease of Christopher Jones House
from 1st March 2025 – 31st March 2025 from various tourism
underspends with the agreement that the Harwich Society will refund
this amount once the required agreements have been arranged.

Alternative options considered

Option 1 - To not extend the lease and to
close the house as a visitor attraction.
Option 2 - To fund the extension of the lease to 31st March
2025.